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Electric driving is gaining popularity, and with it, the need for a reliable charging infrastructure is also growing . Charging stations are becoming increasingly important both at home and at work.
But what should you keep in mind during installation? And how do you combine charging with solar panels and smart energy management? We’ve listed the most important considerations and options for homeowners and businesses.
Why choose your own charging station?
Charging your electric car at home is the most convenient solution for many drivers. You don't have to look for an available public charging station, and you can charge your car whenever it's convenient for you.
Charging from a standard outlet is possible with a modified charging cable, but it’s really just a stopgap solution. A dedicated charging station is the recommended choice for those who charge at home regularly and offers more options in terms of power, safety, and smart control.
When choosing a charging station, several factors are important:
- Charging capacity:Match the capacity of your charging station to your car, your electrical connection, and your charging needs. An 11-kW charging station is a common solution for home use.
- Electrical installation:Not every home has the same utility connection. The available power and the type of connection help determine which charging solution is suitable.
- Installation:Consider the location of your charging station, the distance to your car, and whether to choose a wall-mounted model or a freestanding charging station.
- Smart features:With Dynamic Load Balancing, the charging capacity can be automatically adjusted to match your home's current electricity usage.
Charging with Your Solar Panels
Do you have solar panels? If so, you can use the electricity they generate to charge your electric car. Without a smart control system, charging doesn’t necessarily happen when your solar panels are producing the most power. With a smart charging station and an energy management system, you can adjust your charging capacity to match your solar production and your home’s energy consumption.
When solar production is high, you can charge more using your own electricity. Are other appliances using more energy, or is there less sunlight? In that case, the system automatically adjusts the charging power. This allows you to increase your self-consumption and reduce the amount of electricity you draw from the grid.
Smart charging is worthwhile even without solar panels . For example, you can charge at times when energy prices are favorable, depending on your energy contract and the capabilities of your charging station and energy system.
What about the capacity charge and peak consumption?
Charging an electric car, in combination with other appliances, canlead to high consumption spikes. These also affect thecapacity rate, which is based on the highest average 15-minute peak per month. This applies to households with a digital meter and businesses connected to the low-voltage grid.
Dynamic Load Balancingcanhelp you limit these peaks. The technology measures electricity consumption and automatically adjusts the charging power. Are other devices using a lot of power? If so, the vehicles will charge more slowly for a while. As soon as capacity becomes available again, the charging power is increased.
The chart above shows how Dynamic Load Balancing distributes the available power across multiple charging points at businesses.
Charging Stations at Work: An Interesting Investment
Charging infrastructure is also becoming increasingly important for businesses. Employees, customers, and visitors are driving electric vehicles more often and expect sufficient charging options.
When using multiple charging points, it is important to consider the available power, how it is distributed among the charging points, and future expansions. With Dynamic Load Balancing, power is automatically distributed so that multiple vehicles can charge at the same time without overloading the electrical system.
There are also tax incentives. Companies that invest in charging infrastructure may be eligible for tax benefits under certain conditions. For example, the installation costs of new, smart, and publicly accessible charging stations may be 100% tax-deductible through 2029. The exact conditions depend on the type of investment and the accessibility of the charging stations.
KingConnect: Smartly Combining Charging Stations and Energy Management
A charging station works even more efficiently when combined with smart energy management. With KingConnect, EnergyKing’s energy management system, you can coordinate various energy systems.
For residential customers, KingConnect helps manage solar panels, home batteries, and charging stations intelligently. With KingConnect Pro, businesses can manage multiple charging stations and energy systems. The system coordinates energy consumption, solar production, and dynamic energy prices. This helps you limit consumption peaks and use energy more efficiently.
Installing a charging station? Don't forget these important points
Have your electrical system inspected
Not every home or business has the same electrical connection. Therefore, check in advance to see what charging capacity is available and whether any modifications are needed.
Choose a charging station that's right for your car
The maximum charging capacity depends not only on the charging station, but also on your electric car’s onboard charger and your home electrical connection. So a more powerful charging station doesn’t automatically mean your car will charge faster.
Don't forget to register with Fluvius
In Flanders, private charging stations connected to the low-voltage grid with a capacity of 5 kVA or more must be registered with Fluvius. This requirement has been in effect since June 2021.
Which charging solution is right for you?
Whether you want to charge a single electric vehicle at home or set up a full charging station for your business, the right charging solution starts with your energy needs. At EnergyKing, we determine which system best suits your situation—from a charging station at your home to a complete charging infrastructure for businesses, with options for solar panels and smart energy management.
Wondering which charging solution is right for you? Use our charging station configurator to design your ideal charging station and find out which solution best fits your situation.
